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Biking Between The Rockies And A Hard Place

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By MARCIA BIGGS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 1, 2008

BRECKENRIDGE, Colo. - I confess. I signed up for a women's mountain bike workshop - in the mountains. I know I am approaching middle age. I know I live in a state as flat as a pancake.

Midlife crisis? Maybe. But it sure beats spending 50 grand on a new BMW. And so with helmet on head and an assurance that this would be an easy beginner lesson, I set out for my first taste of off-road biking.

Now, I am not a newbie when it comes to spinning my wheels. I ride regularly - but on flat, paved trails around my Central Florida home. So the thought of going off-road in the mountains was intriguing. By joining a women-specific class, I knew I would not be subjected to a drill sergeant instructor or the prospect of embarrassing myself in a group of Lance Armstrongs.

I was guaranteed that the workshop would be tailored to the level of the participants and, fortunately, the other two women in my class were new to mountain biking. I was even delighted to learn that my bicycle adventure would include a yoga session and a picnic lunch and finish with a visit to a spa.

Colorado Bike & Ski Tours is one of several outfitters around Breckenridge that offer summer instruction in mountain biking, along with clinics on backcountry hiking, kayaking, rock climbing and mountaineering. They cater mainly to small groups.

"We do a lot of team-building courses for companies, and we get a lot of people on vacation who want to learn or improve skills in a certain sport," says sales rep and adventure guide Cat Alletto. "We can create a package to include whatever you want. It's the perfect getaway weekend for women or families."

Bike clinics are designed for all levels, from novice to advanced, and can range from a day to a full weekend.

Gearing Up For The Ride

A week before I arrive, I supply my height, weight and skill level to instructor Christina Plemmons so she can preselect my bike and gear and have it loaded in her truck and ready to go the morning of the clinic. I was given advance instructions on what to expect and what to wear.

The morning of the clinic, I meet up with Christina and the other two participants for a yoga session at Abby Hall on Main Street. The others - Carly and Larissa - are twentysomething locals who appear to be in pretty good physical condition. They want to learn basic mountain biking skills, they tell me, since it's such a popular sport here in the Rockies.

Yoga is alive and well in the mountains of Colorado, too. The room is filled with gently folding bodies and dreamy music as the soft-spoken instructor urges us to stretch, breathe and hold, hold, hold.

After an hour, our bodies warm and brows glistening, we head across the street to Clint's deli for a quick muffin and coffee and to order sandwiches for our picnic lunch.

It's a 10-minute drive up a winding road above town to the Boreas Pass trail - a wide dirt road that was formerly a narrow gauge railroad track. The trail is 12.5 miles round trip, with an elevation gain of 1,120 feet. We are only going to do half today.

Christina unloads our bikes, hands out helmets and lunch sacks, and begins teaching us the mechanics of our bikes and techniques we will need. She adjusts the seat to each of us and checks all the gears and settings.

We set off and spend the first mile getting comfortable switching gears and adjusting to the various tensions.

I quickly learn that keeping balanced, not avoiding obstructions, is the key to mountain biking.

My natural reaction is to avoid rocks, pits and tree roots. But this is not the mantra of mountain biking. Our first exercise is riding along a short, narrow trail with large rocks and tree roots. Christina dismounts and from the end of the trail urges us forward.

"Don't go around rocks and roots; go over them," she tells us. "Look at me. Don't look down at the front wheel."

Maintaining body and foot position and setting your sights ahead rather than down are paramount in mountain biking. Focusing ahead keeps you balanced. Coasting, or standing on the pedals, is new to me. I learn that on a coast downhill on a single (narrow) trail, balance and coordination are key as the cyclist must remain standing on the pedals.

"Keep your arms bent and don't lock your knees," Christina tells us. "Pedals should be horizontal all the time so you balance equally on both feet."

Taking On Roots And Rocks

Having barely survived the practice trail, we pedal on up the road. It's hard to keep focused with the beautiful views of the valley and mountains around me. I break a sweat as I switch gears and aim toward rocks, holes and puddles.

After another mile, we turn off at an old water tower that once fed the steam locomotive. Now we are going to learn to ride a single track - a narrow, winding, rock-strewn path that will lead us back down the mountain. It meanders through a heavily wooded area, and tree roots crisscross the track like giant veins.

The descent is not too steep, but it is tricky to maintain my balance as I stand on the pedals the entire mile or so down. Again, Christina coaxes us from ahead, urging us to look forward, not down. And it works! We all make it to the bottom of the trail without a spill or scratch.

And just in time. The summer storm clouds are threatening, and as we head for our picnic lunch, the rain begins. We find a shelter and sit down to enjoy our sandwiches and our sense of newfound victory.

After lunch, it's time to relax at Blue Sage Spa on Main Street. As I drift off to the soothing strokes of my masseuse and the soft refrains of New Age music, I realize I just touched on the skills of real mountain biking. But this day was about much more than that - it was about respecting my body, supporting others and gaining the inner strength and confidence to carry me into middle age.

Cowabunga!

IF YOU GO

Breckenridge is 98 miles west of Denver (a two-hour drive) at an altitude of 9,600 feet. Try to schedule strenuous activities several days after arriving so you can acclimate to the thin air.

COLORADO BIKE AND SKI TOURS, based in Frisco, Colo., offers instruction in mountain biking, hiking, rock climbing, kayaking and backcountry treks during summer months. Winter courses include snow shoeing, cross-country and telemark skiing. They will also set up lodging and other activities during your stay. Go to www.coloradobikeandski.com or call (970) 668-8900. Prices vary; a one-day mountain bike clinic costs $129 per person.

BABES IN THE BACKCOUNTRY, an outdoor adventure company aimed at women, organizes a number of mountain bike clinics during summer months. A Babes Mountain Bike Weekend Getaway will be Aug. 1-3 in Breckenridge; there also is a one-day clinic option on Aug. 2. Weekend includes a maintenance workshop, guided rides, yoga, some meals and a half-hour spa treatment. Cost is $425 if you register before June 15; go to www.babesinthebackcountry.com or call (970) 453-4060.

RIPSTOKE MOUNTAIN BIKE SCHOOL offers beginner clinics for individuals or groups starting at $45 an hour. Go to www.RipStoke.com or call (970) 485-2061.

LODGING: There is plenty of it in Breckenridge. I stayed at the Hyatt Main Street Station in the heart of town and was lucky enough to have a condo that overlooked the stage for the annual Genuine Jazz & Wine Festival (Aug. 15-17 this year). Contact ResortQuest for help booking any type of lodging at 1-800-661-7604, or go to www.resortquest

breckenridge.com

INFORMATION: For information on Breckenridge, go to www.gobreck

.com, or call 1-877-864-0868.

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